Gabbidon Signs Up

Crystal Palace are delighted to announce the signing of Danny Gabbidon on a free transfer until the end of the 2012/13 season, subject to Football League approval.

The experienced centre-back has been capped 45 times by Wales and spent last season at Queens Park Rangers, and has been added to the Eagles' squad outside of the transfer window as he was a free agent.

Speaking exclusively to Palace Player, he said: “I've been training here for the past week and a half now since my agent asked if I would I like to come down and train. I got in contact with Dougie and Lennie and as there's been some problems with injuries to the defenders it was a good opportunity to come down and I've enjoyed my time here so far.

“It's quite a young team with a lot of good young players and I've been impressed. Everyone seems to get on really well and work hard for each other and I think that's a good basis for a good team. I've come in and they've made me feel really welcome.

My season with QPR was a crazy year, a lot of stuff went on and I didn't really enjoy my time there to be honest. I played the first half of the season but then for the second I was on the bench. I'm happy to get a club now as I've gone through the summer and waited for things to happen whilst seeing the season start and watching games on the TV.

“I want to try and enjoy my football again and just go out there and play and not worry about anything else .I think with Dougie and Lennie there's a good thing going here, it's a good mix and they're definitely a reason for me signing.”

Gabbidon began his playing career with West Bromwich Albion and made his first-team debut back in March 1999 before moving to Cardiff City the following year. He went on to become a mainstay of the Bluebirds side and helped the club win promotion to the Championship in 2003, who were then managed by current Palace assistant boss Lennie Lawrence.

The step up in quality didn't phase him and he went on to secure a place in the Championship Team of the Season in Cardiff's first year back at that level. He became a regular in the Wales side by this time, making his debut against the Czech Republic in March 2002 and was a part of the side that narrowly missed out on qualifying for Euro 2004.

In the summer of 2005 the 33 year old was snapped up by West Ham United which allowed him the opportunity to play in the Premier League. He would spend the next six seasons with the Hammers and received a FA Cup runners-up medal after the club lost on penalties to Liverpool in 2006.

A series of injuries slowed his progress at Upton Park but he battled back to force his way back into the side during the 2010/11 campaign, before Neil Warnock signed him for QPR where he made 17 top-flight appearances last season.

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